Animalistic 17th century


Jan Asselijn, known by his nickname Little Crab (Crabbetje, Krabbetje), was a French and Dutch painter of the Golden Age of Dutch painting.
As a child, Asselijn moved with his family from France to Amsterdam, studied and lived in Italy, where he became a member of the artists' society "Migratory Birds". And he received the nickname Crabbetje because of his physical features - small stature and a damaged arm.
Asselijn painted mainly scenes of horses, cavalry attacks and battles. His works also include genre works, landscapes and animals. Asselijn's most famous painting in this genre is The Frightened Swan, although it is also attributed allegorical meaning.


Elias Baeck called "Heldenmuth", was a German painter and engraver from Augsburg. Baeck worked for some time in Rome, then in Laybach, but finally returned to Augsburg, where he died in 1747. His chief works — both in painting and engraving — were portraits and landscapes. His engravings are sometimes signed "E.B.a.H.", standing for "Elias Baeck, alias Heldenmuth".


Abraham Bloemaert was a Dutch painter, draughtsman, and printmaker from the Golden Age of Dutch painting, one of the founders of the Guild of St. Luke in Utrecht. Bloemart was a caravagist. He painted mainly landscapes, mythological and biblical scenes, and pastoral works.


Michiel Carree of Karé was a Dutch painter and decorator of the Golden Age.
Carree was a famous landscape painter: King Frederick of Prussia invited him to Berlin and appointed him court painter. After the king's death, he returned to Holland and was mainly engaged in decorating the palaces of the noble townspeople. Carrée often depicted livestock in his landscapes, and these paintings can now be seen in the Rotterdam Museum.


Guillaume Coustou the Elder was a French sculptor of the Baroque and Louis XIV style. He was a royal sculptor for Louis XIV and Louis XV and became Director of the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture in 1735. He is best known for his monumental statues of horses made for the Chateau of Marly, whose replicas now stand in the Place de la Concorde in Paris.


Marmaduke Cradock was an English painter of birds and animals.
Sketches in the collection of the British Museum indicate that he based at least some of the birds in his paintings on drawings from life. He tended to paint domestic birds and common wild species, rather than the exotic varieties favoured by some other artists. He sometimes introduced elements of drama such as attacks by predatory animals into his bird paintings, a feature shared with the works of Francis Barlow.


Gijsbert d'Hondecoeter was a Dutch landscape and animalier painter.
Hondecoeter belonged to a family of painters. His father was Gillis d'Hondecoeter and his son was Melchior d'Hondecoeter. Hondecoeter primarily painted works of barnyard fowl. Some of his works can be found at the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam. He became a member of the Guild of St. Luke in Utrecht in 1629. After he died in 1653, his brother-in-law and artist Jan Baptist Weenix continued the training of his son Melchior.


Melchior d'Hondecoeter was Dutch animalier painter, was born in Utrecht and died in Amsterdam. After the start of his career, he painted virtually exclusively bird subjects, usually exotic or game, in park-like landscapes. Hondecoeter's paintings featured geese (brent goose, Egyptian goose and red-breasted goose), fieldfares, partridges, pigeons, ducks, northern cardinal, magpies and peacocks, but also African grey crowned cranes, Asian sarus cranes, Indonesian yellow-crested cockatoos, an Indonesian purple-naped lory and grey-headed lovebirds from Madagascar.


Zhū Dā (Chinese: 朱耷) was a Chinese painter, poet and calligrapher of the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. Known by the pseudonym Bada Shanzhen (Chinese: 八大山人), the man from Mount Bada.
Bada Shanren belonged to the imperial family of the Ming Dynasty, but chose to become a Buddhist monk and led a reclusive lifestyle. His artistic style was characterised by a unique combination of traditional Chinese ink painting techniques and bold, expressive brushstrokes. Bada Shanren's works often depicted landscapes, birds, flowers and animals, demonstrating an exceptional ability to convey the essence of the natural world. His paintings reflected a sense of spiritual introspection and a deep connection to nature. Despite the turbulent times in which he lived, Bada Shanren's artistic legacy remains highly regarded and his works are still considered masterpieces of Chinese ink painting.


Cesare Dandini was an Italian painter of the Baroque period, active mainly in his native city of Florence. He was the older brother of the painter Vincenzo Dandini. He enrolled in 1621 in the Accademia del Disegno. His style has the polish and attention to draughtsmanship and design characteristic of Florentines like Carlo Dolci.


Marcus de Bye (sometimes spelt de Bie or de Bije) was a Dutch painter and engraver. He learnt to paint under Jacob van der Does, and produced some landscapes with animals in the style his teacher, but he is best known for his etchings of animals, after the designs of Paulus Potter and Markus Gerard II. Member of Confrerie Pictura.




Paul de Vos was a Flemish Baroque painter and a member of the Guild of St. Luke in Antwerp.
Paul de Vos was the younger brother of Cornelis de Vos and specialized in hunting scenes with dogs, depicting various animals and birds. His skill in this genre was valued and he collaborated with Rubens in depicting animals. De Vos's paintings were highly regarded both in Spain and at other European courts.
De Vos enjoyed the patronage of Spain's influential aristocrats and received many commissions from them. In 1637-1638 he worked with Rubens and Snyders on the decoration of Spanish royal residences.


Jan Jansz. den Uyl was a painter of the Dutch Golden Age. He very much specialized in the form of still life known as the breakfast piece, or, in the elaborate style of painters like den Uyl, banquet pieces (banketjestukken). He also painted landscapes and animal paintings.


Karel Dujardin was a Dutch painter and printmaker of the Golden Age of Dutch painting.
He studied with Klaas Berchem and Paulus Potter, traveled to Italy, and lived in Lyon. In 1656 he participated in the founding of the Pictura Society in The Hague.
Dujardin painted mostly Italian landscapes, genre scenes, including scenes from rural life, portraits of elegant people and historical paintings.
Many of Dujardin's works are in the Louvre, the Hermitage (St. Petersburg), as well as in Amsterdam, The Hague, Kassel, and Berlin.


Jan Fyt (March 15, 1611 – September 11, 1661) was a prominent Flemish painter and engraver of the Baroque period, celebrated for his refined still lifes and animal depictions. Born in Antwerp to a wealthy merchant family, Fyt began his artistic training in 1621 under Hans van den Bergh. He later apprenticed with Frans Snyders, a leading master of still life and animal paintings, working in his workshop until 1631. In 1630, Fyt became a master of the Antwerp Guild of Saint Luke.
Between 1633 and 1640, Fyt traveled extensively across Europe, visiting cities such as Paris, Rome, and Venice. In Rome, he joined the Bentvueghels, a society of Northern European artists, where he was nicknamed "Goudvink" (Bullfinch). During his time in Venice, he received commissions from noble families like the Sagredo and Contarini.
Upon returning to Antwerp in 1641, Fyt established his own workshop, producing numerous works that catered to the tastes of aristocratic patrons. His paintings are distinguished by their vibrant palettes, dynamic compositions, and meticulous rendering of textures, particularly the fur and feathers of animals. Contemporaries highly valued his hunting still lifes, as well as his portrayals of flowers and fruits.
On March 22, 1654, Fyt married Françoise van de Sande, with whom he had four children. In 1650, he joined the Antwerp "Sodaliteit der Bejaerde Jongmans" (Sodality of Elder Bachelors), a fraternity that required members to have visited Rome. By 1652, he was elected dean of this guild.
Fyt's artistic legacy comprises approximately 280 paintings, many of which are signed and dated. His works are housed in major museums worldwide, including the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, the Louvre in Paris, and the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. In addition to painting, Fyt was an accomplished engraver, creating etchings that featured animals and birds.
Jan Fyt passed away on September 11, 1661, in his native Antwerp, leaving an indelible mark on Flemish painting and influencing subsequent generations of artists.


Wenceslaus Hollar, born on July 13, 1607, in Prague, was a Bohemian artist acclaimed for his etchings and engravings. His journey in art began in Germany, where he studied under the engraver Matthäus Merian. Hollar's career flourished when he moved to England, where he worked for various print sellers and publishers, including the notable John Ogilby and antiquarian Sir William Dugdale.
Hollar is remembered for his intricate and detailed works that include over 2,000 pieces, ranging from classical and historical subjects to portraits, costumes, and topographical scenes. His skill in translating texture into the etched medium was unparalleled, even as he lost most of the sight in one eye. Some of his most significant works include "Views of London," created after the Great Fire of London in 1666, which became valuable historical records of the city.
Tragically, Hollar's life was marked by hardships, including financial struggles and the loss of his young son to the plague. Despite these challenges, his dedication to his craft never waned. He continued to produce high-quality works until his death on March 25, 1677, in extreme poverty. Today, his works are held in high regard and are preserved in prestigious collections such as the British Museum in London and the National Gallery in Prague.
Hollar's legacy is a testament to his exceptional talent and his ability to capture the essence of his subjects with precision and depth. His works continue to be a rich source of historical and artistic knowledge, particularly for collectors, auctioneers, and experts in art and antiques.
For those interested in the remarkable etchings and engravings of Wenceslaus Hollar, staying informed about exhibitions and sales of his work can offer valuable insights into his unique artistic perspective.


Gu Jianlong, born in 1606, was a prominent Chinese painter and draughtsman known for his mastery in portrait painting. From Suzhou Taichang, Gu Jianlong served as a court artist in the 1660s-70s, during which he painted portraits of Qing emperors and members of the imperial family. His work is best recognized for its detailed and evocative portrayal of historical subjects, portraits, landscapes with figures, and other thematic elements that vividly depict the era's cultural and social aspects.
His life and work spanned the transition from the Ming to the Qing dynasty, a period of significant cultural and political change in China. This context is reflected in the style and subjects of his paintings, which offer a unique window into Chinese history and art.
Gu Jianlong's artworks are held in high esteem and are part of prestigious collections, including those at The British Museum and The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. His works, such as "Studies of Figures with Carts," "Tree Studies with Pagoda," and "Mountain Waterfall with Village," demonstrate his versatility and skill in using traditional Chinese painting techniques. These pieces, along with others like "Cliffs," "Trees Rocks and Bridge," and "Portrait of Ma Shiqi (1650-1714)," showcase his ability to capture both the natural world and human subjects with equal finesse.
For collectors, auctioneers, and art experts, Gu Jianlong's works represent an important part of Chinese art history. His paintings not only exhibit technical skill but also offer insights into the cultural and historical context of his time.
If you are interested in the art of Gu Jianlong and would like to receive updates on new sales, auctions, and events related to his works, consider signing up for updates. This subscription will keep you informed about opportunities to acquire and learn more about the unique art of Gu Jianlong.


Albert Jansz. Klomp was a Dutch painter of the Golden Age of Dutch painting who specialised in painting rural landscapes with animals.
Albert Klomp's paintings resemble those of Paulus Potter. Both artists have similar subjects and style, and Klomp's work has been erroneously attributed to Potter in the past.
Klomp's typical pastoral landscapes can be seen in many of the world's museums.


Paulus Potter was a Dutch painter who specialized in animals within landscapes, usually with a low vantage point.
Before Potter died of tuberculosis at the age of 28 he succeeded in producing about 100 paintings, working continuously.


Louis Renard was a Dutch painter, printmaker and book publisher born in France.
Renard published map atlases and illustrated works of natural history popular in 18th-century Europe. In Amsterdam he acquired many cartographic plates by Frederick de Wit, which he combined with minor updates and corrections into an Atlas of Navigation and Commerce and published in 1715. He later sold the plates to R. & J. Ottens, who republished it in 1745.
In 1718 -1719 Renard published the first edition of his most famous multi-volume work, Poissons, écrevisses et crabes... que l'on trouve autour des Isles Moluques, et sur les cotes des Terres Australes ("Fish, crayfish and crabs, of varied colors and unusual forms, which are found around the Moluccas Islands and on the coasts of the southern lands."). This book was the world's first encyclopedia of fish illustrated in color. While working on it, Renard copied drawings by other artists, notably the talented Dutch artist Samuel Fallors. The result was 460 hand-colored copperplate prints.
The creatures in Renard's book are so fanciful that they may seem fictional, but only about 10 percent are, including the depiction of a mermaid. Most likely, these fantasies were included for the sake of attracting buyers. The work is now believed to be an important part of eighteenth-century scientific literature.




Luisa Ignacia Roldán Villavicencio, known as La Roldana, was a Spanish sculptress of the Baroque period and the first female sculptor in Spain about whom there is verified lore. In the Museum of the Latin American Society, Roldán is described as "one of the few female artists who had their own workshop outside the convent in Golden Age Spain". Her father Pedro Roldán was also a sculptor from Seville.


Cornelis Saftleven was a Dutch painter who worked in a great variety of genres. Known in particular for his rural genre scenes, his range of subjects was very wide and included portraits, farmhouse interiors, rural and beach scenes, landscapes with cattle, history paintings, scenes of Hell, allegories, satires and illustrations of proverbs.


Roelant Savery was a Flanders-born Dutch Golden Age painter.
Savery primarily painted landscapes in the Flemish tradition of Gillis van Coninxloo, often embellished with many meticulously painted animals and plants, regularly with a mythological or biblical theme as background. He also painted multiple flower still lifes; bouquets in stone niches, sometimes with lizards such as Flowers with Two Lizards, insects or fallen petals and regarded as his best work.
His unique style of painting, related to the then reigning Mannerism, has been highly popular with collectors and can be found in many museums in Europe and North America. His preparatory drawings are also valued highly.


Jacob Savery the Elder was a Flemish painter, etcher and draughtsman. He was trained in Antwerp and later moved to the Dutch Republic after 1584. He specialised in still lifes, animals, landscapes en genre paintings.
Jacob’s earliest known works of 1584-86 are mostly cabinet-size landscapes that clearly show the influence of his master Hans Bol.
In Amsterdam Jacob was active as painter, etcher and draftsman. He produced a series of etchings in Pieter Bruegel the Elder's stipple technique depicting idealized rural scenes full of picturesque details, such as castle ruins and rabbit hunts.


Francesco Simonini was an Italian Baroque painter.
He studied painting at the Francesco Monti School, which specialized in battle scenes, and visited Rome, Bologna and Venice. Simonini worked in his own style with bright colors, which he developed under the influence of the Venetian school. He painted many battle scenes, most of them with cavalry.


Frans Snyders was a Flemish painter of animals, hunting scenes, market scenes and still lifes. He was one of the earliest specialist animaliers and he is credited with initiating a wide variety of new still-life and animal subjects in Antwerp. He was a regular collaborator with leading Antwerp painters such as Peter Paul Rubens, Anthony van Dyck and Jacob Jordaens.


Massimiliano Soldani or Massimiliano Soldani Benzi was an Italian baroque sculptor and medallist, mainly active in Florence. Soldani developed into one of the finest bronze casters of his time in Europe. Though first specialising as a medallist, Soldani also produced bronze reliefs, bronze vases and free-standing figures and busts.


Lazzaro Tavarone was an Italian painter of the late-Renaissance and Mannerist period, active mainly in his native Genoa and in Spain. He was the pupil of the painter Luca Cambiasi. Tavarone accompanied Cambiaso to Spain in 1583, and helped decorate the Escorial for the Spanish King, including the chaotic battle painting of Battle of La Higueruela. He returned to Genoa in 1594, where he became well known both as portrait and history painter.


Jan van Huchtenburgh was a Dutch painter of the Dutch Golden Age who specialised in battle scenes and landscapes.
Jan van Huchtenburgh was known for his ability to create dramatic and dynamic battle scenes, often depicting historical events of the 17th and 18th centuries. His work is noted for its precision and attention to detail, as well as his use of light and shadow to create a sense of depth and drama.
In addition to battle scenes, Huchtenburg was also a skilled landscape painter. He often depicted scenes of the Dutch countryside with rolling hills, winding rivers and expansive skies.


Jan van Kessel the Elder or Jan van Kessel I was a Flemish painter active in Antwerp in the mid 17th century. A versatile artist he practised in many genres including studies of insects, floral still lifes, marines, river landscapes, paradise landscapes, allegorical compositions, scenes with animals and genre scenes. A scion of the Brueghel family many of his subjects took inspiration of the work of his grandfather Jan Brueghel the Elder as well as from the earlier generation of Flemish painters such as Daniel Seghers, Joris Hoefnagel and Frans Snyders. Van Kessel’s works were highly prized by his contemporaries and were collected by skilled artisans, wealthy merchants, nobles and foreign luminaries throughout Europe.




Pieter van Laer was a Dutch painter of the Golden Age, a talented genre painter and printmaker. Pieter van Laer introduced a new genre of painting, bambocciade (after his nickname of bamboccio, little boy). These are paintings depicting scenes from everyday life of ordinary people. In his works, Pieter van Lahr depicted with humor, and sometimes with grotesque and sarcasm, the everyday life of the lower classes of society. Pieter van Lahr is also known for his landscapes and animal representations - he created two series of engravings with animals. He also painted several battle scenes.


Izaak (Isaac) van Oosten was a Flemish Baroque landscape and cabinet painter active in Antwerp.
His landscapes are simple with open spaces and mostly hilly landscapes typically filled with a pond or road and several clusters of trees. There is an overall sense of gentleness and calm in these compositions. An even, gentle light spreads over the entire painting and the trees are untouched by the wind. A number of his landscapes have a Mediterranean flavour.
Works by van Oosten can be found in the collections of the Uffizi, the Museo del Prado, the Hermitage Museum, the Musée des Beaux-Arts d'Orléans, the Museum of Fine Arts of Rennes, the Toledo Museum of Art and other museums.


Nicolaes van Verendael or Nicolaes van Veerendael was a Flemish painter active in Antwerp who is mainly known for his flower paintings and vanitas still lifes. He was a frequent collaborator of other Antwerp artists to whose compositions he added the still life elements. He also painted a number of singeries, i.e, scenes with monkeys dressed and acting as humans.


Simon de Vlieger was a maritime painter of the Golden Age of Dutch painting. He is best known for his paintings depicting the naval fleet of the Republic of the United Provinces of Holland. He painted ships in port, on the high seas, during storms, or shipwreck scenes. Flieger also made tapestries, engravings, and stained-glass windows for the Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam.


Jan Weenix was a Dutch painter of the Golden Age and a member of the Guild of St. Luke in Utrecht.
He received his first painting lessons from his father Jan Baptist Weenix and later perfected his art. Jan Weenix is known for still lifes with game, hunting scenes, he painted landscapes and portraits, genre paintings, and created decorative panels. Among the customers of his works was also Tsar Peter I.


Johannes (Jan) Wierix was a Flemish engraver, draughtsman, and publisher. He was a very accomplished engraver who made prints after his own designs as well as designs by local and foreign artists.
Together with other members of the Wierix family of engravers he played an important role in spreading appreciation for Netherlandish art abroad as well as in creating art that supported the Catholic cause in the Southern Netherlands. Johannes Wierix is also known for his miniature pen drawings.


Philips Wouwerman was a distinguished Dutch painter. Renowned for his equestrian scenes, landscapes, and battle depictions, Wouwerman's work embodies the richness of the Dutch Golden Age of painting. He initially trained under his father, Paulus Wouwerman, and possibly with the celebrated artist Frans Hals, showcasing a deep engagement with the artistic milieu of Haarlem.
Wouwerman's career is marked by a prolific output, with about 570 of his works confidently attributed to him today. His oeuvre was once thought to include up to 1200 pieces, a testament to his influence and the extensive body of followers and imitators he inspired across Europe. His brothers, Jan and Pieter Wouwerman, were also painters who are sometimes confused with Philips due to their stylistic similarities.
Philips Wouwerman's paintings are celebrated for their dynamic composition and intricate detail, particularly his treatment of horses which has been a subject of admiration across centuries. His landscapes often feature Italianate settings, despite no concrete evidence suggesting he ever visited Italy. His style was notably influenced by Pieter van Laer, another Haarlem artist with a significant Italian experience, from whom Wouwerman might have acquired sketches and studies.
For art collectors and experts, Wouwerman's work provides a fascinating glimpse into 17th-century Dutch culture, offering scenes filled with vibrancy and life that capture the viewer's imagination. His paintings can be found in prestigious museums worldwide, including the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, The National Gallery in London, and the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, showcasing his widespread acclaim and the enduring legacy of his art.
For those interested in exploring the captivating world of Philips Wouwerman and staying informed about new discoveries, sales, and auction events related to his work, signing up for updates is highly recommended. This ensures access to the latest information and opportunities related to one of the Dutch Golden Age's most versatile and prolific artists.